Mystery surrounds the sudden death of a young mum who died just three days after giving birth to a baby boy.

Delighted Jane Whiteside, 41, posed for this picture with mother Jean and five-year-old daughter Lucy shortly after the arrival of son Ben.

But the day after it was taken the family’s joy turned to horror after Jane died suddenly after falling to a mystery illness.

Tragically Jane, who used to volunteer as a brown owl for the guides group in Great Harwood, died suddenly on Burnley General Hospital’s maternity unit on Sunday, September 25.

Jane’s heartbroken mum Jean Ridehough said her daughter had overcome many obstacles to make her dreams of having a career and a family a reality.

She added it was terrible that Ben, and daughter Lucy, would grow up without their mum. She said: "It should be the happiest time when you have a baby. Everyone looked healthy when Ben came along. But it has turned to total and utter devastation. The whole family is devastated with the suddenness of it. We don’t know how she died. For it to end like this, there are no words to describe it. I don’t think I have got a heart any more – it’s just broken. It’s so sad and so sudden."

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of the former pupil of St Bartholomew’s Primary in Great Harwood and St Christopher’s in Accrington.

Jane, who was born Jane Ridehough, had a career spanning almost 25 years at Nationwide Building Society branches in Lancashire, including a spell at the Accrington branch.

As a child she was diagnosed with Scoliosis and wore a surgical brace to keep her spine straight from the age of two to 11 as she grew up in the family home on Park Avenue in Great Harwood.

She later had operations to straighten her spine and was a keen and popular brownie – later becoming brown owl at Great Harwood Central Methodist brownies.

Jane married Stephen Whiteside in Clayton-le-Moors in 2002 and later started a family.

Jean, who also now lives in Blackburn, said she and Jane’s dad John saw their daughter achieve things they thought wouldn’t happen. She said: "She overcame several obstacles like spinal operations to make her dreams a reality.

"She was such a positive person and had a large impact on people’s lives. Jane had a wide circle of wonderful friends and many aunties and uncles who played a big part in her life, especially in her early years. She was such a generous happy person."

She added: "Jane and Steve had a great nine-and-a-half year marriage. I want to thank Steve for what he did for Jane and for what he is now doing for those children.

"He’s wonderful and an amazing father. They were excellent parents and a wonderful family unit.

"We will try to keep her memory alive as much as we can for the children."

The funeral was at St Bartholomew’s Church, Great Harwood, before cremation at Accrington Crematorium on Wednesday. Donations were to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.